Device housing for a measuring device

ABSTRACT

A measuring device ( 30 ) including a device housing ( 31 ) having at least one housing section ( 37; 36 ) and including a measuring unit ( 32 ) that is arranged at least partially inside the device housing ( 31 ). The at least one housing section ( 37; 36 ) includes a first segment made of a first material and a second segment made of a second material that differs from the first material. The first material is an elastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic with a rebound resilience of less than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of less than 80, and the second material is a hard thermoplastic or a metal.

This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/763,673,filed Jul. 27, 2015 which is a National Phase Application ofInternational Application No. PCT/EP2014/051159, filed Jan. 22, 2014 andclaiming the benefit of German Patent Application DE 10 2013 201 412.0,filed Jan. 29, 2013; all of the above applications are herebyincorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates to a measuring device comprising a devicehousing and a measuring unit.

The term “measuring device” within the scope of the present inventionencompasses all devices that use a measuring unit having optical orelectro-optical components. Examples of measuring devices are laserdistance-measuring devices, dot and line laser devices, rotating laserdevices and detectors for detecting objects in the ground.

BACKGROUND

Known measuring devices comprise a housing and a measuring unit arrangedinside the device housing. FIG. 1 shows a prior-art measuring device 10configured as a rotating laser, consisting of a device housing 11 and ofa measuring unit 12 that is arranged in the device housing 1 and that isshown schematically in FIG. 1. The device housing 11 of the rotatinglaser 10 has a base housing 13, a rotating head 14 and several handles15. The base housing 13 is configured to be essentially cylindrical andit comprises a bottom surface 16, a top surface 17 opposite from thebottom surface 16 and a side surface 8 that connects the bottom and topsurfaces 16, 17. The rotating head 14 comprises a cover element 21 thatis connected to the top surface 17 of the base housing 13 via severalcrosswise webs 22 that are connected to each other. The handles 15comprise a grip element 23 as well as an upper attachment element 24 andthey comprise a lower element 25 for attaching the handles 15 to thebase housing 13. FIG. 1 shows a variant in which the handles 15 aresnapped onto the base housing 13 at the upper end 26 and screwed ontothe base housing 13 at the lower end 27.

The various sections of the device housing 11, which are configured asthe base housing 13, the rotating head 14 and the handles 15, are madeof thermoplastics and consist either of a hard thermoplastic or else ofa hard thermoplastic and a soft thermoplastic-elastomeric plasticproduced by means of a multi-component injection-molding process. Thecover element of the rotating head and the handles consist of a firstand second material configured as a hard thermoplastic and of a softthermoplastic-elastomeric plastic. Due to the design and the materialsemployed, the prior-art measuring devices are not sufficiently sturdy incase of impact or a fall from a drop height of more than 1 meter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sturdy devicehousing for a measuring device having a measuring unit arranged in thedevice housing, whereby the measuring unit is protected against damagein case of impact or a fall from a drop height of more than 1 meter.Moreover, aside from the measuring unit, the device housing and thedevice components attached to the device housing should also beprotected.

The present invention provides that the first material is an elastomericor thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic with a rebound resilience (R) ofless than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of less than 80, and the secondmaterial is a hard thermoplastic or a metal.

Depending on their mechanical behavior under the influence of heat,plastics are divided into thermoplastics, thermosetting plastics, andelastomeric plastics. Thermoplastics are non-crosslinked plastics thatcan be repeatedly deformed; the more they are heated, the better theycan be deformed. Whether a thermoplastic is hard or soft at roomtemperature depends on its glass transition temperature; it is soft andcan be deformed above the glass transition temperature, whereas it issolid and cannot be deformed below the glass transition temperature.Familiar thermoplastics are, for example, polyolefins (PE, PP), styreneplastics (PS, ABS, SAN), polyesters (PBT, PC), polyacetals (POM) andpolyamides (PA). The main method for shaping thermoplastics is injectionmolding. Elastomers or rubber materials are dimensionally stable,elastically deformable plastics that are elastically deformed undertensile and compressive load, after which they return to their originalnon-deformed shape. Elastomeric plastics are rubbers (e.g. naturalrubber (NR), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene-propylene-dienerubber (EPDM), silicon rubber (LSR, RTV)) and polyurethane (PUR)elastomers. Polyurethane is a versatile plastic; a suitable reactionregimen and proper selection of the monomers yield polyurethanes havingdifferent degrees of crosslinking. Closely crosslinked polyurethane ishard as well as tough and resilient, and it is belongs to thethermosetting plastics. In contrast, loosely crosslinked polyurethane issoft and rubbery-elastic, and it belongs to the elastomeric plastics.Non-crosslinked polyurethane has the properties of a thermoplastic.Thanks to its excellent mechanical and physical properties, polyurethaneproduced by means of foaming is used in the construction sector as PURrigid foam, but it is also used as permanently flexible PUR foam fortechnical applications. As a special group of elastomers, thethermoplastic elastomers (TPE), for example, on the basis of olefins(TPE-O), on the basis of styrenes (TPE-S) or on the basis of urethanes(TPE-U), combine the typical properties of elastomers with theprocessing capabilities of thermoplastics.

The rebound resilience (R) is a characteristic value of elastomericplastics; it is defined in the standard DIN 53512 and it serves toevaluate the elasticity behavior when subjected to impact. The standardISO 4662 applies to rubber. In order to determine the reboundresilience, a defined pendulum hammer strikes a test specimen; theworking capacity of the pendulum hammer is 0.5 J. A semispherical peenwith a diameter of 15 mm is employed as the pendulum hammer. The reboundresilience is calculated on the basis of the deflection of the pendulumhammer. The release angle is 90° and the length of the pendulum hammeris 200 mm. The rebound resilience (R) is calculated from the quotient ofthe rebound height divided by the starting height times one hundred.

The Shore hardness is a characteristic value of elastomeric plastics andit is defined in the standards DIN 53505 and DIN 7868. The measuringmethods differ for soft elastomers and tough elastomers. A Shore-Ahardness is determined for soft elastomers whereas a Shore-D hardness isdetermined for tough elastomers. The Shore-A hardness is measured with arod that has a tip with a truncated cone having an end face with adiameter of 0.79 mm and an opening angle of 35°; the applied mass is 1kg and the holding time is 15 seconds. The Shore-D hardness is measuredwith a rod that has a tip with a conical point having a radius of 0.1 mmand an opening angle of 30°; the applied mass is 5 kg and the holdingtime is 15 seconds. Normally, a precision of ±5 units is assumed for theShore hardness.

Owing to the structure of a housing section for the measuring devicemade of an elastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic having arebound resilience (R) of less than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of lessthan 80, in case of impact or a fall from a great height, the housingsection can deform elastically and can subsequently return to itsundeformed shape. The impact energy is dissipated in the device housingand it is not transferred to the measuring unit, thus protecting themeasuring unit against damage. The properties of the first material areselected with an eye towards achieving a high energy dissipation. Anelastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic with a reboundresilience of less than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of less than 80protects the measuring unit against damage in case of impact or a fallfrom a drop height of more than 1 meter. The second material is used inthe areas of the housing section that are adjacent to other sections ofthe device housing and that have to be connected to them. The two-partstructure of the housing section with the second material that isconfigured as a hard, thermoplastic or as a metal permits a secureconnection of the housing section to the surrounding sections of thedevice housing. Thermoplastics have the advantage over elastomericplastics that they can be welded and that they can be connected tosurrounding housing sections by means of screwed connections.

Preferably, the first segment of the housing section is connected to thesecond segment by means of a multi-component method. Multi-componentmethods make it possible to produce molded parts inexpensively in onework cycle and, through the systematic combination of materials andmaterial properties, they permit the integration of functionalities suchas design, haptics, sealing functions or assembly aids. Whenpolyurethane is the elastomeric plastic used, the first material can beconnected to the second material by means of foaming; the shaping of thefirst material and the connecting of the first and second materials arecarried out in one process step by foaming the first material.

Especially preferably, the second segment has an elastically flexibleconnection element in the connection area leading to the first segment.The connection element enlarges the connection surface between the firstand the second segments of the housing section. The larger theconnection surface, the better the connection between the first andsecond segments. Moreover, the connection element functions like aspring element that can deform elastically due to the effect of impactor a fall, and that can subsequently return to its original shape.

Preferably, the volume content of the first material in the firstsegment amounts to at least 40%. Owing to a volume content ofelastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic amounting to at least40%, it is ensured that the impact energy will be absorbed by the devicehousing, even in case of drop heights of more than 1 meter, and will notbe transferred to the measuring unit, thus protecting the measuring unitagainst damage.

In a preferred embodiment, the measuring device is configured as arotating laser, and the device housing comprises several sections,whereby the housing sections are configured as the base housing, therotating head and the handle. Here, each housing section of the devicehousing can be made of the first and second materials. In a rotatinglaser, the handles and the rotating head are particularly well-suitedfor a two-part structure made of the first and second materials, sincethese housing sections project from the device housing and the energy istransmitted via these housing sections in case of impact or a fall.However, the base housing of the rotating laser can also have a firstsegment that is made of the first material.

Especially preferably, the rotating laser has at least three handles,whereby the rotating head and the handles are attached to the basehousing. Here, the at least three handles are arranged essentiallyuniformly around the base housing and are connected to the base housing.In the case of a rotating laser with three or more handles, the basehousing can be protected against the effect of direct force on the sidesurface of the base housing. In case of impact or a fall, the devicehousing lands on the protruding handles, which can absorb and dissipatethe impact energy. For this purpose, the number of handles and thedimensions of the handles are harmonized with each other in such a waythat the side surface of the base housing is behind the outermosttangential connection surface between adjacent handles.

Especially preferably, the handles comprise a first segment that isconfigured as a grip element and that is made of the first material, andthey comprise a second segment that is configured as an attachmentelement for attaching the handles to the base housing and that is madeof the second material, whereby the volume content of the first segmentin the handle amounts to at least 50%. The second material, which isconfigured as a hard, thermoplastic or as a metal, is used in the areasof the handles that adjoin other housing sections and that have to beconnected to them. The second material permits a good connection of thehandles to the base housing. A volume content of the first segmentamounting to at least 50% in the grip element ensures that the impactenergy for drop heights of more than 1 meter is absorbed and dissipatedrather than being transferred to the measuring unit.

Preferably, the volume content of the first material in the firstsegment of the handles amounts to at least 50%. A volume content ofelastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic amounting to at least50% ensures that the impact energy can be absorbed by the devicehousing, even in case of drop heights of more than 1 meter, and that itis not transmitted to the measuring unit, thus protecting the measuringunit against damage.

In a first variant, the volume content of the first material in thefirst segments of the handles is 100%. The higher the volume content ofthe first material in the first segment of the handles, the greater theamount of impact energy that is dissipated through the modality ofelastic deformation.

In a second, alternative variant, the first segments of the handles aremade of another material, whereby the other material differs from thefirst material. The other material can be, for example, an elastomericplastic, a thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic, a thermoplastic or ametal. The selection of the other material in the first segments of thehandles depends on the requirements being made of the handles.

Especially preferably, the first segments of the handles have anelastically flexible insert element that is made of the other material.Damping, reinforcing or process-related functions can be integrated intothe insert element in the first segment of the handle. The selection ofthe other material and of the shape of the insert element depends on therequirements being made of the handles.

Especially preferably, the second segments of the handles comprise anupper attachment element at the upper end facing the rotating head andthey comprise a lower attachment element at the lower end facing awayfrom the rotating head for attaching the handles to the base housing.The upper and lower attachment elements ensure a permanent attachment ofthe handles to the base housing in case of impact or a fall.

In a preferred embodiment, the first segments of the handles comprise atleast one shock absorbing element. The shock absorbing elements serve toabsorb the impact energy in case of impact or a fall and to dissipate itthrough the modality of elastic deformation. In this context, the shockabsorbing elements are provided particularly in the areas of the handleswhich project beyond the base housing in case of impact or a fall andvia which the force is introduced into the device housing. Thanks tothis configuration of the shock absorbing elements, the bottom surface,the top surface and the side surface of the base housing can all beprotected.

The first segments of the handles especially preferably have a lowershock absorbing element at the lower end, whereby the lower shockabsorbing elements of the handles project from the base housing in anaxial direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating laser.Thanks to this configuration of the lower shock absorbing elements atthe lower end of the rotating laser, a device housing falling in thedirection of the bottom surface lands on the lower shock absorbingelements which then absorb the impact energy and dissipate it throughthe modality of elastic deformation. In case of impact or a fall, thebottom surface of the base housing is protected by the lower shockabsorbing elements against the effect of direct force. The side surfaceof the base housing can be protected in that the lower shock absorbingelements are additionally configured on the sides.

Especially preferably, the lower shock absorbing elements have astanding surface for positioning the rotating laser in an uprightarrangement on a substrate for horizontal laser operation. Since thelower shock absorbing elements project from the bottom surface of thebase housing, the bottom surface that is normally provided as thestanding surface is not suitable as the standing surface for therotating laser.

The first segments of the handles especially preferably have an uppershock absorbing element at the upper end. Thanks to the configuration ofthe upper shock absorbing elements at the upper end of the handles, theside surface of the base housing as well as the rotating head can beprotected. The protective effect of the upper shock absorbing elementsis particularly effective in conjunction with the shock absorbingelements on the rotating head and in conjunction with the lower shockabsorbing elements of the handles. A lateral orientation of the uppershock absorbing elements protects the side surface of the base housing,while an orientation towards the rotating head protects the rotatinghead. Here, it should be taken into account that the extension of theupper shock absorbing elements towards the rotating head is limited bythe fact that the laser beam rotating around the axis of rotation is notsupposed to be interrupted by the upper shock absorbing elements.

Preferably, the first segments of at least two of the handles of therotating laser have integrated placement elements for positioning therotating laser in a prone arrangement on a substrate for vertical laseroperation.

In a preferred embodiment, the rotating head comprises a first segmentthat is configured as a top element and that is made of the firstmaterial, and it comprises a second segment that has several crosswisewebs and that is made of the second material, whereby the volume contentof the first segment amounts to at least 50%. A volume content of thefirst segment amounting to at least 50% in the rotating head ensuresthat, in case of drop heights of more than 1 meter, if the device isdropped on the rotating head, the impact energy will be absorbed anddissipated by the device housing and will not be transferred to themeasuring unit.

Especially preferably, the volume content of the first material in thefirst segment of the rotating head amounts to at least 50%. Owing to avolume content of elastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plasticamounting to at least 50%, it is ensured that, even in case of dropheights of more than 1 meter, the impact energy will be absorbed by therotating head and will not be transferred to the measuring unit, thusprotecting the measuring unit against damage.

In a first variant, the volume content of the first material in thefirst segment of the rotating head is 100%. The higher the volumecontent of the first material in the first segment of the rotating head,the greater the amount of impact energy that is dissipated through themodality of elastic deformation.

In a second, alternative variant, the first segment of the rotating headis made of another material, whereby the other material differs from thefirst material. The other material can be, for example, an elastomericplastic, a thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic, a thermoplastic or ametal. The selection of the other material depends on the requirementsbeing made of the rotating head.

Especially preferably, the first segment of the rotating head has anelastically flexible insert element that is made at least partially ofthe other material. Damping, reinforcing or process-related functionscan be integrated into the insert element in the first segment of therotating head. The selection of the other material and the shape of theinsert element depend on the requirements being made of the rotatinghead.

Especially preferably, the first segment of the rotating head comprisesat least one shock absorbing element. Thanks to this configuration ofshock absorbing elements on the rotating head, in case of impact or afall, the device housing lands on the shock absorbing elements, whichabsorb the impact energy and dissipate it through the modality ofelastic deformation. In case of impact or a fall, the shock absorbingelements protect the cover element and the crosswise webs of therotating head against the excessive effect of direct forces. Theprotective effect of the shock absorbing elements on the rotating headis particularly effective in conjunction with the upper shock absorbingelements of the handles.

Especially preferably, the number of shock absorbing elements of therotating head matches the number of handles. Here, the shapes and theorientation of the shock absorbing elements of the rotating head and ofthe upper shock absorbing elements of the handles are harmonized witheach other since the protective effect of the shock absorbing elementsof the rotating head is particularly effective in conjunction with theupper shock absorbing elements of the handles.

The outer surfaces of the grip elements and of the shock absorbingelements that strike an obstacle or land on the ground in case of impactor a fall of the rotating laser especially advantageously enclose anobtuse angle between 90° and 180°. Owing to this configuration of theouter surfaces, the rotating laser can roll on the ground in case ofimpact or a fall and can thus dissipate some of the impact energy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference tothe drawing. The drawing does not necessarily depict the embodimentstrue-to-scale, but rather, the drawing has been made schematicallyand/or in slightly distorted form whenever necessary for the sake ofclarity. Regarding any additions to the teaching that can be gleaneddirectly from the drawing, reference is hereby made to the pertinentstate of the art. In this context, it should be taken into considerationthat a wide variety of modifications and changes can be made relating tothe shape and the detail of a given embodiment without departing fromthe general idea of the invention. The features of the inventiondisclosed in the description, in the drawing as well as in the claimscan be essential for the refinement of the invention, eitherindividually or in any desired combination. Moreover, all combinationsof at least two of the features disclosed in the description, in thedrawing and/or in the claims fall within the scope of the invention. Thegeneral idea of the invention is not limited to the exact form or detailof the preferred embodiment shown and described below, nor is it limitedto a subject matter that would be limited in comparison to the subjectmatter being put forward in the claims. At given rated ranges, valuesthat fall within the cited limits are also to be disclosed as limitvalues and can be used and claimed in any desired manner. For the sakeof clarity, identical or similar parts or else parts with an identicalor similar function are designated below by the same reference numerals.

The following is shown:

FIG. 1 a prior-art measuring device configured as a rotating laser witha device housing consisting of a base housing, a rotating head andseveral handles;

FIG. 2 a measuring device according to the invention in the form of arotating laser with a device housing consisting of a base housing, arotating head and several handles, whereby the rotating head and thehandles consist of several parts made of an elastomeric plastic and athermoplastic;

FIGS. 3A, B the structure of the handles of the rotating laser of FIG. 2in a three-dimensional view (FIG. 3A) and in a section through thehandle parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating laser (FIG. 3B);

FIG. 4 the structure of the rotating head of the rotating laser of FIG.2 in a view from the top; and

FIG. 5 an alternative embodiment of the handles for the rotating laserof FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2 shows a measuring device 30 according to the invention that isconfigured as a rotating laser. The rotating laser 30 comprises a devicehousing 31 and a measuring unit 32 that is arranged inside the devicehousing 31 and that is shown schematically in FIG. 2. The measuring unit32 generates a laser beam in a radiation source, and this laser beamstrikes a rotating optical deflector 33. The laser beam exits from theradiation source in an axial direction and it is deflected by 90° in aradial direction by means of the optical deflector 33. The opticaldeflector 33 rotates around the axis of rotation 34 that runs parallelto the axial direction of the emitted laser beam.

The device housing 31 of the rotating laser 30 comprises a base housing35, a rotating head 36 and several handles 37. FIG. 2 shows a devicehousing 31 with four identically configured handles 37 that are arrangeduniformly around the base housing 35. As an alternative, the devicehousing 31 can have one, two, three or more than four handles 37, and/orthe handles can be configured differently. In a device housing 31 withat least three handles 37, the handles 37 can have a standing surfacefor positioning the rotating laser 30 in an upright arrangement on asubstrate.

The base housing 35 comprises a bottom surface 38, a top surface 39opposite from the bottom surface 38 and a side surface 41 that connectsthe bottom and top surfaces 38, 39. The rotating head 36 is connected atthe top surface 39 to the base housing 35, and the handles 37 areattached to the base housing 35 at the upper end 42 facing the rotatinghead 36 and at the lower end 43 facing away from the upper end 42.

The handle 37 comprises a grip element 45 for holding the rotating laser31 as well as an upper attachment element 46 and a lower attachmentelement 47 for attaching the handle 37 to the base housing 35. Thehandle 37 additionally comprises an upper shock absorbing element 48 atthe upper end 42 and an lower shock absorbing element 49 at the lowerend 43. The shock absorbing elements 48, 49 improve the energyabsorption and the energy dissipation in the handle 37 in case of impactor a fall. The lower shock absorbing elements 49 each have a standingsurface 51 and the rotating laser 30 is positioned in an uprightarrangement on a substrate for horizontal laser operation. Thanks tothis configuration of the lower shock absorbing elements 49 at the lowerend 43 of the handles 37, in case of impact or a fall in the directionof the bottom surface 38, the device housing 31 lands on the lower shockabsorbing elements 49, which absorb the impact energy and dissipate it.In case of impact or a fall, the bottom surface 38 of the base housing35 is protected by the lower shock absorbing elements 49 against theeffect of direct force.

The rotating head 36 protects the optical deflector 33 and it comprisesa cover element 52 and several crosswise webs 53 that are connected toeach other and that attach the rotating head 36 to the top surface 39 ofthe base housing 35. The crosswise webs 53 are configured to be asnarrow as possible so that they only interrupt the laser beam to thesmallest extent possible. On the cover element 52, there are severalshock absorbing elements 54 that project from the cover element 52 inthe axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation 34 as well asparallel to the laser plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 34.Thanks to this configuration of the shock absorbing elements 54 on thecover element 52, in case of impact or a fall, the device housing 31lands on the shock absorbing elements 54, which absorb and dissipate theimpact energy. In case of impact or a fall, the shock absorbing elements54 protect the cover element 52 and the crosswise webs 53 of therotating head 36 against the effect of excessive direct forces.

The shape of the grip elements 45 and of the shock absorbing elements48, 49, 54 has been selected with an eye towards achieving a high energydissipation. The surfaces of the grip elements 45 and of the shockabsorbing elements 48, 49, 54 that strike an obstacle or land on theground in case of impact or a fall each enclose an obtuse angle between90° and 180°. Owing to this configuration of the surfaces, the rotatinglaser can roll on the ground in case of impact or a fall and can thusdissipate some of the impact energy. Moreover, the grip elements 45 andthe shock absorbing elements 48, 49, 54 are made of an elastic,energy-absorbing plastic and they additionally dissipate impact energythrough the modality of elastic deformation.

FIGS. 3A, B show the structure of the handles 37 of the rotating laser30 of FIG. 2 in a detailed view, whereby FIG. 3A shows the handle 37 ina three-dimensional view and FIG. 3B shows a cross section through thehandle 37 parallel to the axis of rotation 34 of the rotating laser 30in FIG. 2.

The grip element 45, the upper shock absorbing element 48 and the lowershock absorbing element 49 form the first segment 61 of the handle 37.The first segment 61 is made of a first material 62 configured as anelastomeric plastic with a rebound resilience of less than 40% and aShore-A hardness of less than 80. The properties of the elastomericplastic 62 for the first segment 61 have been selected with an eyetowards achieving a high energy dissipation in case of impact or a fall,and furthermore, the grip element 45 should be sufficiently stable sothat the rotating laser 30 can be held by the handles 37. Suitableelastomeric plastics for the first segment include PUR elastomers, alsoin foamed form, rubbers and thermoplastic elastomers. The grip element45 is provided with placement elements 63 with which the rotating laser30 can be positioned in a prone arrangement on a substrate for verticallaser operation.

The upper and lower attachment elements 46, 47 form a second segment 64of the housing 37. The second segment 64 is made of a second material 65configured as a thermoplastic and produced, for example, by means of aninjection-molding process. A multi-component process is used to producethe first segment 61 with the grip element 45, the shock absorbingelements 48, 49 and the placement elements 63 as well as to connect thefirst segment 61 to the second segment 64 with the upper and lowerattachment elements 46, 47.

In the connection area to the grip element 45, the upper and lowerattachment elements 46, 47 each have an elastically flexible connectionelement 66, 67 that enlarges the connection surface between the firstand second segments 61, 64. The larger the connection surface betweenthe first and second segments 61, 64, the better the connection.Moreover, the connection element 66, 67 acts like a spring element thatis elastically deformed and subsequently returns to its original shape.Aside from the connection elements in the form of a pine-tree structure66, 67 shown in FIG. 3B, any shapes that enlarge the connection surfacecan also be used.

The second material 65 is configured as a thermoplastic and it is usedin the areas of the handles 37 that adjoin other housing sections andthat have to be connected to them. The hard thermoplastic 65 permits agood connection of the handles 37 to the base housing 35. Thermoplasticshave the advantage over elastomeric plastics that they can be welded andthat they can be permanently connected to surrounding housing sectionsby means of screwed connections.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the rotating head 36 of the rotating laser30 of FIG. 2 in a detailed top view. The rotating head 36 consists ofthe cover element 52, of several crosswise webs 53 and of several shockabsorbing elements 54.

On the top facing away from the optical deflector 33, the cover element52 has the shock absorbing elements 54 that project from the coverelement 52 in the axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation 34and parallel to the laser plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation34. Moreover, the shock absorbing elements 54 project from the basehousing 35 in the laser plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 34.Thanks to this configuration of the shock absorbing elements 54 on thecover element 52, in case of impact or a fall, the device housing 31lands on the shock absorbing elements 54, which absorb the impact energyand dissipate it. In case of impact or a fall, the shock absorbingelements 54 protect the cover element 52, the crosswise webs 53 and theoptical deflector 33 of the rotating head 36 against the effect ofexcessive direct forces.

The cover element 52 and the shock absorbing elements 54 form a firstsegment 71 of the rotating head 36. The first segment 71 is made of afirst material 72 that is configured as an elastomeric plastic with arebound resilience of less than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of less than80. The crosswise webs 53 that are connected to each other form a secondsegment 73 of the rotating head 36. The second segment 73 is made of asecond material 74 that is configured as a thermoplastic.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a handle 81 for the rotatinglaser 30 of FIG. 2. In the rotating laser 30, the handle 81 replaces thehandles 37. The handle 81 comprises a grip element 82, an upperattachment element 83, a lower attachment element 84, an upper shockabsorbing element 85 and a lower shock absorbing element 86.

The grip element 82, the upper shock absorbing element 85 and the lowershock absorbing element 86 form the first segment 87 of the handle 81.The first segment 87 is made of a first material 88 that is configuredas an elastomeric plastic with a rebound resilience of less than 40% anda Shore-A hardness of less than 80, as well as of another material 89.Here, the first segment 87 has a volume content of the first material 88amounting to at least 50%. An insert element 91 that consists of theother material 89 and that can have additional damping, reinforcing orprocess-related functions is embedded in the first material 88. Theupper and lower attachment elements 83, 84 form a second segment 92 thatis made of a second material 93 configured as thermoplastic. The secondsegment 92 and the insert element 91 can be made of the samethermoplastic. As an alternative, the other material 89 of which theinsert element 91 is made can be an elastomeric plastic that differsfrom the first material 88 or else a thermoplastic that differs from thesecond material 93.

FIG. 5 shows a handle 81 in which the insert element 91 is partiallyvisible on the surface of the handle 81 and can be configured as adesign element, for example, by selecting different colors for thematerials 88, 89. As an alternative, the insert element 81 can bearranged in the handle 81 and can be completely surrounded by theelastomeric plastic 88. Moreover, the insert element in the grip elementand the attachment elements can be made in one piece.

What is claimed is:
 1. A measuring device comprising: a device housinghaving at least one housing section made up of a first housing segmentand a second housing segment, the first housing segment made of a firstmaterial, and the second housing segment made of a second materialdiffering from the first material; and a measurer arranged at leastpartially inside the device housing, the first material being anelastomeric or thermoplastic-elastomeric plastic with a reboundresilience of less than 40% and a Shore-A hardness of less than 80, andthe second material being a hard thermoplastic or a metal.
 2. Themeasuring device as recited in claim 2 wherein the first segment isconnected to the second segment via multi-component injection-molding.3. The measuring device as recited in claim 3 wherein the second segmenthas an elastically flexible connection element in a connection arealeading to the first segment.
 4. The measuring device as recited inclaim 2 wherein a volume content of the first material in the firstsegment amounts to at least 40%.
 5. The measuring device as recited inclaim 1 wherein the measuring device is configured as a rotating laserand the at least one housing section includes a rotating head, a handle,and a base housing.
 6. The measuring device as recited in claim 5wherein the at least one housing section includes at least two furtherhandles, the rotating head and the handle and further handles beingattached to the base housing.
 7. The measuring device as recited inclaim 6 wherein the handle and further handles each comprise the firsthousing segment configured as a grip and made of the first material andthe second housing segment configured as an attachment for attaching thehandle or further handle to the base housing and made of the secondmaterial, a volume content of the first housing segment in the handle orfurther handle amounting to at least 50%.
 8. The measuring device asrecited in claim 7 wherein the volume content of the first material inthe first housing segment amounts to at least 50%.
 9. The measuringdevice as recited in claim 8 wherein the first housing segments of thehandle and the further handles include another material, the othermaterial differing from the first material.
 10. The measuring device asrecited in claim 7 wherein the second housing segments include an upperattachment element at an upper end facing the rotating head, and includea lower attachment element at the lower end facing away from therotating head for attachment to the base housing.
 11. The measuringdevice as recited in claim 7 wherein the first housing segments includeat least one shock absorber.
 12. The measuring device as recited inclaim 11 wherein the at least one shock absorber includes a lower shockabsorber element at a lower end, the lower shock absorber elementsprojecting from the base housing in an axial direction parallel to anaxis of rotation of the rotating laser.
 13. The measuring device asrecited in claim 12 wherein the lower shock absorber elements have astanding surface for positioning the rotating laser in an uprightarrangement on a substrate for horizontal laser operation.
 14. Themeasuring device as recited in claim 11 wherein the at least one shockabsorber includes an upper shock absorbing element at an upper end. 15.The measuring device as recited in claim 6 wherein the first housingsegments of at least two of the handle and further handles haveintegrated placement positioners for positioning the rotating laser in aprone arrangement on a substrate for vertical laser operation.
 16. Themeasuring device as recited in claim 5 wherein the rotating headincludes the first housing segment configured as a top element made ofthe first material, and includes the second housing segment, the secondhousing segment having several crosswise webs made of the secondmaterial, a volume content of the first housing segment amounts to atleast 50%.
 17. The measuring device as recited in claim 16 wherein thevolume content of the first material in the first housing segment of therotating head amounts to at least 50%.
 18. The measuring device asrecited in claim 17 wherein the first segment of the rotating headincludes another material, the other material differing from the firstmaterial.
 19. The measuring device as recited in claim 16 wherein thefirst segment of the rotating head includes at least one shock absorber.20. The measuring device as recited in claim 19 wherein a number ofshock absorbing elements of the rotating head matches a number ofhandles and further handles of the rotating laser.
 21. The measuringdevice as recited in claim 19 wherein outer surfaces of grip elementsand of the shock absorber each enclose an obtuse angle between 90° and180°.